Countertrey wrote:Danny Smith needs to go... I simply don't understand how he manages to keep his job, year after year...

He's got to have video...

please expand on this, I don't see the problem with Danny Smith, he doesn't miss field goals or miss blocks on FG's or Extra Points or Punts, I haven't seen a time that Danny Smith hasn't been in the face of the person who blew their assignment and also, I don't know how much he has to do with it but, the best special teams player IN THE LEAGUE, Lorenzo Alexander, is on Danny Smith's Special Teams.

But anyhow I would like to hear/read why, it seems to me, a lot of people have a problem with Danny Smith

Whether or not Smith needs to go is not my concern. I think he is fine for now.

However, Smith is the head of the special teams and as such is accountable for their actions -- which it appears you do not believe. One of the primary purposes of coaches is to make sure their players are prepared to take the field. Therefore, if a player misses an assignment or a block or the players just don't bring it that game --- that is on the coach in that they did not adequately PREPARE their players. Preparation is achieved in practice through practice and repetition. If a player blows an assignment -- it is because they were not prepared. The special teams coach also needs to know the weaknesses in his personell and act accordingly. If there are weaknesses on the FG line, which causes a block, he should have identified those things and held accountable.

While I do understand that there will be circumstances where there was nothing a coach could do -- such as where a kicker is lighting it up in practice and then goes out and shanks one in the game. The ST coach can't be held accountable for that -- but if the writing was on the wall and the ST coach should have known about it and did nothing, then it is on them.

I believe that there have been some things with ST that were unavoidable -- such as Cundiff's 3 misses within 40 yards. However, I believe that there were somethings that shouldn't have happened -- such as the 2 block/bad snap punts. That said, I don't believe Smith should lose his job over this, but I do believe that he should understand that his players are underperforming.

Of course, it's the head coach who decides how much time special teams gets in practice...

I'm hearing the #Redskins originally planned on having Graham Gano kick tomorrow. Changed minds at some point after contacting him this AM.

If this is true, Shanny really, really, really doesn't want Gano back. Been there done that or Shanny can't decide how he wants he crow cooked?

Why would Shannahan need to eat crow if he signed Gano back? He wasn't wrong about Gano. If Gano went and played well for someone else, I could see it, but that someone else sucks too is hardly a defense for Gano.

I've read and heard Chris Russell a couple times say that Shanahan just really did not like Gano for whatever reason.

The bottom line is, and I know this for sure, Mike Shanahan was never a big fan of Gano's and just didn't want him moving forward if somebody he and the staff deemed more experienced and better, became available.

Who knows what's behind that really. You've gotta have confidence in the kicker though.

I'm hearing the #Redskins originally planned on having Graham Gano kick tomorrow. Changed minds at some point after contacting him this AM.

If this is true, Shanny really, really, really doesn't want Gano back. Been there done that or Shanny can't decide how he wants he crow cooked?

Why would Shannahan need to eat crow if he signed Gano back? He wasn't wrong about Gano. If Gano went and played well for someone else, I could see it, but that someone else sucks too is hardly a defense for Gano.

I've read and heard Chris Russell a couple times say that Shanahan just really did not like Gano for whatever reason.

The bottom line is, and I know this for sure, Mike Shanahan was never a big fan of Gano's and just didn't want him moving forward if somebody he and the staff deemed more experienced and better, became available.

Who knows what's behind that really. You've gotta have confidence in the kicker though.

So you're thinking it's something like that he chewed his food in the cafeteria with his mouth open or something?

I'm thinking "The game's on the line, make this kick," and he doesn't, is reason enough.

Groucho: Man does not control his own fate. The women in his life do that for him

Proverb: Failure is not falling down. Failure is not getting up again

Twain: A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

I'm hearing the #Redskins originally planned on having Graham Gano kick tomorrow. Changed minds at some point after contacting him this AM.

If this is true, Shanny really, really, really doesn't want Gano back. Been there done that or Shanny can't decide how he wants he crow cooked?

Why would Shannahan need to eat crow if he signed Gano back? He wasn't wrong about Gano. If Gano went and played well for someone else, I could see it, but that someone else sucks too is hardly a defense for Gano.

I've read and heard Chris Russell a couple times say that Shanahan just really did not like Gano for whatever reason.

The bottom line is, and I know this for sure, Mike Shanahan was never a big fan of Gano's and just didn't want him moving forward if somebody he and the staff deemed more experienced and better, became available.

Who knows what's behind that really. You've gotta have confidence in the kicker though.

So you're thinking it's something like that he chewed his food in the cafeteria with his mouth open or something?

I'm thinking "The game's on the line, make this kick," and he doesn't, is reason enough.

If that is the case than Gano would NEVER have been replaced with Cundiff!
15 of the last 16 say GANO had turned the corner. Missing 5 kicks out of 41 that weren't blocked. Making 4 over 50 yardes. Most misses were right around 49 yards.

KazooSkinsFan wrote:I'm thinking "The game's on the line, make this kick," and he doesn't, is reason enough.

That happened a few times but ...

Posted at 06:46 PM ET, 09/18/2011Graham Gano wins game after uneven dayBy Rick MaeseFor the fourth time since joining the Redskins in 2009, Graham Gano jogged onto the field and nailed a game-winning field goal. And like so many other times in his young career, the big kick was preceded by an uneven performance.

Gano had a 30-yard field goal attempt blocked in the final minute of the first half, and he opened the second half with a kickoff that landed out of bounds. But when the game’s on the line, Gano seems to be at ease.

“I love them,” he said of pressure-packed kicks that decide a game’s outcome. “That’s the most fun.”

With only 1:50 left in Sunday’s game, Gano drilled a 34-yarder that gave the Redskins the 22-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

Gano locked up the kicking job by going 10-for-10 in the preseason. But he missed a 39-yard attempt in the season-opening win against the New York Giants, and has hardly inspired unwavering confidence among fans.

“I hit 10 in a row in the preseason. Then everybody wanted to throw me under the bus after that first miss,” Gano said. “But I stay confident. It’s just one kick at a time.”

On Sunday he hit a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter to put the Redskins on the scoreboard. As the half was winding down, he was unsure what happened on the block but said the snap and hold were fine.

“After the block, I went up to Danny [Smith, special teams coordinator] and said we’re gonna have a chance to win the game on a field goal,” Gano said. “I just had a feeling it was going to come down to that in the end.”

As for the out-of-bound kickoff that allowed the Cardinals to open the second half on the 40-yard line, Gano took full responsibility. It was a directional kick aimed at the corner of the field, and Gano wasn’t helped by the wind at his back.

“That’s on me,” he said. “I got to keep the ball in play. ...I hit the ball well, just didn’t put it where it should’ve been.”

KazooSkinsFan wrote:So you're thinking it's something like that he chewed his food in the cafeteria with his mouth open or something?

I'm thinking "The game's on the line, make this kick," and he doesn't, is reason enough.

haha. I would think so too. That's not exactly what seems to have happened with Gano though, so maybe there is something to what Russell was saying. His blog piece was kind of interesting if you get to read it.

Countertrey wrote:Danny Smith needs to go... I simply don't understand how he manages to keep his job, year after year...

He's got to have video...

please expand on this, I don't see the problem with Danny Smith, he doesn't miss field goals or miss blocks on FG's or Extra Points or Punts, I haven't seen a time that Danny Smith hasn't been in the face of the person who blew their assignment and also, I don't know how much he has to do with it but, the best special teams player IN THE LEAGUE, Lorenzo Alexander, is on Danny Smith's Special Teams.

But anyhow I would like to hear/read why, it seems to me, a lot of people have a problem with Danny Smith

Whether or not Smith needs to go is not my concern. I think he is fine for now.

However, Smith is the head of the special teams and as such is accountable for their actions -- which it appears you do not believe. One of the primary purposes of coaches is to make sure their players are prepared to take the field. Therefore, if a player misses an assignment or a block or the players just don't bring it that game --- that is on the coach in that they did not adequately PREPARE their players. Preparation is achieved in practice through practice and repetition. If a player blows an assignment -- it is because they were not prepared. The special teams coach also needs to know the weaknesses in his personell and act accordingly. If there are weaknesses on the FG line, which causes a block, he should have identified those things and held accountable.

While I do understand that there will be circumstances where there was nothing a coach could do -- such as where a kicker is lighting it up in practice and then goes out and shanks one in the game. The ST coach can't be held accountable for that -- but if the writing was on the wall and the ST coach should have known about it and did nothing, then it is on them.

I believe that there have been some things with ST that were unavoidable -- such as Cundiff's 3 misses within 40 yards. However, I believe that there were somethings that shouldn't have happened -- such as the 2 block/bad snap punts. That said, I don't believe Smith should lose his job over this, but I do believe that he should understand that his players are underperforming.

Iunno, I see it as if you miss an assignment, that is on you. Your coach can do everything in the world to beat into your head what you need to do and what your assignments are, if you can't get that then it is your fault. If anything the player should be let go if it becomes a common issue, not the coach, I mean do we really blame Greg Blache for Haynesworthless lying on the field like a sack of poop, no, we blame Albert. Really you can only work with what you've got and, lets face it, we really still have a problem at a lack of depth with people who can block.
Danny Smith seems to have done a good job in he tenure here and I would hate to see him go. Would be hard to not see a guy with a cheek full of gum? chew?, who knows, on the sideline every Sunday.

Let's see what happens with Kai, maybe he will come out and hit everything for the rest of the season and be our friend until we boot his ass out when we draft a kicker in the 6th this year, or maybe he'll suck ass and be KIA instead.
Either way I see your points and hopefully you see mine, and we can agree to disagree

KazooSkinsFan wrote:I'm thinking "The game's on the line, make this kick," and he doesn't, is reason enough.

That happened a few times but ...

Posted at 06:46 PM ET, 09/18/2011Graham Gano wins game after uneven dayBy Rick MaeseFor the fourth time since joining the Redskins in 2009, Graham Gano jogged onto the field and nailed a game-winning field goal. And like so many other times in his young career, the big kick was preceded by an uneven performance.

Gano had a 30-yard field goal attempt blocked in the final minute of the first half, and he opened the second half with a kickoff that landed out of bounds. But when the game’s on the line, Gano seems to be at ease.

“I love them,” he said of pressure-packed kicks that decide a game’s outcome. “That’s the most fun.”

With only 1:50 left in Sunday’s game, Gano drilled a 34-yarder that gave the Redskins the 22-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

Gano locked up the kicking job by going 10-for-10 in the preseason. But he missed a 39-yard attempt in the season-opening win against the New York Giants, and has hardly inspired unwavering confidence among fans.

“I hit 10 in a row in the preseason. Then everybody wanted to throw me under the bus after that first miss,” Gano said. “But I stay confident. It’s just one kick at a time.”

On Sunday he hit a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter to put the Redskins on the scoreboard. As the half was winding down, he was unsure what happened on the block but said the snap and hold were fine.

“After the block, I went up to Danny [Smith, special teams coordinator] and said we’re gonna have a chance to win the game on a field goal,” Gano said. “I just had a feeling it was going to come down to that in the end.”

As for the out-of-bound kickoff that allowed the Cardinals to open the second half on the 40-yard line, Gano took full responsibility. It was a directional kick aimed at the corner of the field, and Gano wasn’t helped by the wind at his back.

“That’s on me,” he said. “I got to keep the ball in play. ...I hit the ball well, just didn’t put it where it should’ve been.”

Cano is not here because he could not make Danny and Mike think he could do what they needed him to do

Gano is a good kicker - he's just not good enough

Gano could be the best kicker in the NFL - he just needs to convince the guys that hire kickers

It certainly does not look like he's going to get another shot here

P A T I E N C E - The Redskins will improve the product on the field if Dan Snyder just let's Scott & his FO do their jobs Dan needs to stop screwing things up and let Scott get this franchise back together

Clearly, folks don't get the big picture... When has Danny Smith EVER fielded a solid special teams? He turned a productive punt returner (Randal El) into a dancer. He's turning Banks into a dancer. How many blocked kicks last year? How many blocked punts this year? How many directional KO's out of bounds over the past 4 years? What magic turned Suisham into a reliable kicker as soon as he hit Pittsburgh??? Give me a break, folks... the coach is as much the problem as the players. I doubt that Shanahan went out and got Cundiff without consulting with Smith...our ST is not going to improve untill he's gone.

Countertrey wrote:Danny Smith needs to go... I simply don't understand how he manages to keep his job, year after year...

He's got to have video...

please expand on this, I don't see the problem with Danny Smith, he doesn't miss field goals or miss blocks on FG's or Extra Points or Punts, I haven't seen a time that Danny Smith hasn't been in the face of the person who blew their assignment and also, I don't know how much he has to do with it but, the best special teams player IN THE LEAGUE, Lorenzo Alexander, is on Danny Smith's Special Teams.

But anyhow I would like to hear/read why, it seems to me, a lot of people have a problem with Danny Smith

Whether or not Smith needs to go is not my concern. I think he is fine for now.

However, Smith is the head of the special teams and as such is accountable for their actions -- which it appears you do not believe. One of the primary purposes of coaches is to make sure their players are prepared to take the field. Therefore, if a player misses an assignment or a block or the players just don't bring it that game --- that is on the coach in that they did not adequately PREPARE their players. Preparation is achieved in practice through practice and repetition. If a player blows an assignment -- it is because they were not prepared. The special teams coach also needs to know the weaknesses in his personell and act accordingly. If there are weaknesses on the FG line, which causes a block, he should have identified those things and held accountable.

While I do understand that there will be circumstances where there was nothing a coach could do -- such as where a kicker is lighting it up in practice and then goes out and shanks one in the game. The ST coach can't be held accountable for that -- but if the writing was on the wall and the ST coach should have known about it and did nothing, then it is on them.

I believe that there have been some things with ST that were unavoidable -- such as Cundiff's 3 misses within 40 yards. However, I believe that there were somethings that shouldn't have happened -- such as the 2 block/bad snap punts. That said, I don't believe Smith should lose his job over this, but I do believe that he should understand that his players are underperforming.

Of course, it's the head coach who decides how much time special teams gets in practice...

THis an excellent point, Cville. If Shanny is not giving Danny Smith the time he is asking for for special teams, it would explain why Shanny is not finding fault with Danny and not sending him packing. After hearing Shanny explain both punt blocks on his Saturday evening show, it sounds like it is a problem with repetitions in practice. Guys were getting too anxious to get down there and cover the punts instead of blocking their man. In the Rams game, he said the player swung the Ram around and actually gave the guy momentum to block the punt. Shanny said it is a matter of guys paying attention to detail. That sounds like a practice issue.